travel. Imagine, being anywhere in the world and being reachable as if you
were still in the US. Give VoIP to friends or family located anywhere around
the world and call them as if they were in the US! The applications are
endless.
Free Features and Better Functionality - Most VoIP service providers
offer free features that traditional phone companies charge for. These
features vary by provider, but some of the more common ones include:
caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, voicemail-to-email, voicemail notification,
call forwarding, conference calling and many more. All of these are easy to
use and almost always come at no extra charge to you, making VoIP an
even greater value.
OK. Now I know what VoIP is and the benefits of using it. So what
do I need to do to start using VoIP?
First, the most crucial piece of the puzzle is a computer with an Internet
connection. A majority of the computers purchased within the last two years will
work fine. In the world of VoIP, the faster the Internet connection, the better the
overall VoIP experience will be. While some VoIP services will work with dial-up, a
broadband connection (high-speed internet) is usually recommended. Examples of
broadband connections include DSL, local area network and cable modem.
Next, you’ll need to decide on a service provider. Some are free and others aren’t.
One great example of a free VoIP service is Skype. Click here to find out more
about Skype. Skype allows you to make PC-to-PC calls to other Skype users,
anywhere in the world, completely for free. Just download the program from their
website, www.skype.com, onto your computer and set up an account. Skype is
easy-to-use, simple to install and has better sound quality than normal
telephones.
If Skype is free, why pay for a VoIP service? With services like Skype, you are
limited to only making free calls to other Skype users. You must stay within the
Skype network if you want to call for free.
With the paid VoIP services, these limits are eliminated enabling you to make calls
to regular telephone numbers and receive calls just like a normal phone. Skype
offers these services, but they are not for free. Please visit www.skype.com for
the latest terms, conditions and pricing. Overall, the rates seen with the paid VoIP
services are still drastically less than traditional phone rates, especially when
international calling is introduced into the mix.